Pancreatic-islet fibrosis in young infants of diabetic mothers.

Pancreatic-islet fibrosis was found at necropsy in six out of ten infants (aged 11-142 days) born to diabetic mothers. Fibrosis covered an islet area of 5-10% in three cases, 10-20% in two cases, and more than 20% in one case. The three infants with the most pronounced islet fibrosis were heavier than normal at birth, and at least two of them were of "diabetic appearance" at birth. Five of the six cases with islet fibrosis had major malformations.